Adjustable shoe-last



J. L. WOLF. ADJUSTABLF: SHOE LAST.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 21, 1921.

1 39 901 Patented Nov. 15, 1921.

WITNESS:

ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN L. WOLF, OF LOGANSPORT, INDIANA.

ADJUSTABLE SHOE-LAST.

Application filed January 21, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J GEN LOUIS lVoLr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Logansport, in the county of Cass and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Shoe-Lasts, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention has reference to an adjustable shoe last.

My object is to produce a shoe last which maybe employed in shaping shoes or for cobblers use, and which is provided with means whereby the heel and toe portions may be adjusted with respect to each other in an easy and expeditious manner and effectively held so adjusted.

A further object is to .produce an adjustable shoe last which may be constructed of either light or heavy material in accordance to the use to which it is subjected, and wherein the toe portion of the last is telescopically associated with the heel portion thereof and in which revoluble means arranged between the heel and toe portions is employed for adjusting and for sustaining the toe and heel portionsin desired longitudinal relation to each other.

A still further object of the invention is to produce an adjustableshoe last which shall be of a simple construction, which may be cheaply manufactured, and wherein the adjusting means between the toe and heel portions thereof is disposed at a convenient position away from these parts, so that the adjustment may be conveniently made exteriorly of the shoe after the last has been. arranged in the shoe.

The foregoing, and other objects which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, may be accomplished by a construction, combination and operative association of parts, such as is disclosed by the drawings which accompany and which form part of this application.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation with parts in section, of my improved adjustable last.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4: is a transverse vertical sectional view on the line 4-4: of Fig. 1.

When my improved last is employed for cobblers use, the toe and heel portions thereof are constructed of some suitable comparatively heavy material and the base portions Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 15,1921.

Serial No. 438,912.

thereof have their confronting ends disposed comparatively near each other, so that only a small space will be provided therebetween when the last is fully adjusted to bring the heel and toe portions away from each other. This space is arranged at the instep where the nails or tacks are not driven through the sole or heel. lVhen the last is employed for shaping shoes, the toe and heel portions thereof are constructed of light material, either of blocks of wood or metal and the confronting ends of the heel and toe portions may be disposed at a. comparatively great distance away from each other.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the numeral 1 designates the toe portion of the last and 2 the heel portion thereof. In the showing of the drawings, the toe and heel portions are in the nature of blocks each of which being centrally channeled longitudinallly from the inner or confronting faces thereof to provide substantially rec tangular pockets 3 respectively.

Resting on the lower straight wall in the pocket 3 of the toe 1, and preferably contacting with the end and side walls thereof is the widened end 4 of a substantially rectangular bar 5. The bar is secured in the pocket by elements 6 that pass transversely through the toeportion and the end t of the bar. The bar 5 terminates preferably in a. line with the inner end of the toe portion 1 of the last, and the said end of the bar has integrally formed thereon a. cross sectionally rounded rod 7.

In the pocket 3 of the heel portion 2 of the last, resting on the lower wall thereof, and contacting with the inner wall of the said pocket isa bar 8. This bar is secured in the pocket by elements 9 that pass transversely through the heel portion 2 and through the said bar. The bar projects a desired distance beyond the inner end of the heel portion 2, having a socket 10 enteringfrom its outer end to receive therein the rod extension 7 on the bar 5. In this manner, the toe and heel portions of the last are telescopically associated.

Either secured to the upper edge of the bar 8, or integrally formed thereon is a comparatively light plate 1.1. The plate 11 is partly received in the pocket 3 of the heel. portion 2 of the last, and has its upper edge arched, as disclosed by the drawings. To lighten the weight of the plate 11, the same is approximately centrally provided with an opening 12. The plate has its outer edge straight and at the corners of the said straight end there are formed cross sectionally rounded bosses 13 and 14 respectively. Each boss has a central opening therethrough, and these openings aline and receive therethrough a threaded rod or screw 15. The screw is preferably formed with a widened or headed portion 16 to rest on the boss 14 and is provided with a nonthreaded portion 17 that passes through the said boss and through the rod 8, inward of the bore 10 thereof. The end of the portion 17 is flattened, as at 18, against the inner face of the bar 8, or may be otherwise held from outward movement through the bar and through the bosses. On the upper and outer end of the screw 15 there is an operating head or handle 19.

Disposed for movement longitudinally on the screw 15 is a follower 20. The follower is in the nature of a small block having a threaded bore therethrough, which is engaged by the threads of the screw 15. The follower, on its outer end is provided with a reduced extension in the nature of an ear 21 which is centrally received in the bifurcated end 23 of a link 2a, a pivot 25 connecting the link to the ear. The outer end of the link is received in the pocket 3 of the toe portion 1, its said end being bifurcated to straddle the bar 5, a pivot 26 passing through the said bifurcated end and through the said bar. The pivot 26 may be received in a slightly elongated slot in the bar to permit of a certain amount of lost motion to prevent the binding of the rod 7 in the socket of the bar 8, when the handle 19 is turned to revolve the screw 15 to cause the follower 20 to ride in either direction on the said screw, and consequently move the bar to varying angles to adjust the toe portion 1 either inwardly or outwardly with respect to the heel portion 2 of the last.

A last, constructed as above described,

can successfully be employed either for shaping shoes or for cobblers use. The operating end or head 18 of the screw is disposed a considerable distance away from the heel and toe portion of the last, so that the same may be conveniently operated when the last is employed in either boots or shoes. The follower cannot be moved without the turning of the screw, and consequently the adjustment of the last cannot be interfered with by longitudinal pressure exerted on either the heel or too portion thereof. In addition to this, the pressure exerted against the follower 20 by the link 2-1- will hold the screw from accidental turning, and while I have described a satisfactory embodiment of the improvement as it now appears to me, it is to be understood that I am entitled to all such changes from the description and the showing of the drawings as fall within the scope of my claim.

Having described the invention, I claim In an adjustable last, a toe section and a heel section, each of said sections having pockets entering from the confronting ends thereof, a bar having a widened end secured in the pocket of one of the sections and having a rod projecting from the opposite end thereof, a second bar secured in the pocket of the second last section and having a socket to receive the rod, an upstanding plate on the last mentioned bar having lugs on the inner end thereof, an upwardly inclined link pivoted to the bar of the first mentioned last section, a follower having a threaded opening therethrough and to which the upper end of the link is pivoted, a screw passing through the openings in the lugs of the mentioned plate and through a threaded bore in the follower, means holding the screw against longitudinal movement, and an operating handle at the outer end of the screw.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN L. WOLF. 

